Stabilized nitrated starch.



rrl ea s ar Fries.

FLETCHER B. HOLMES, OF WOODBURY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE E. I. DUPONT DE NEMOURS POWDER COMPANY. OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATIONOF NEW JERSEY.

STABILIZED NITRATED STARCH.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FLETCHER B. HOLMES,-

- a citizen of the United States, residing at Vtoodbury, county ofGloucester, and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Stabilized Nit rated Starch, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description.

The object of my invention is to produce stable nitrated starch.

Nitrated starch may beused as an explosive itself, or preferably may beused as a component part of an explosive, such as where it is mixed withsodium nitrate, potassium nitrate or some other oxygen carrier, with orwithout the addition of other ingredients. The difficulty with 'nitratedstarch is that it is very unstable, being liable to decomposition. Whensuch nitrated starch decomposes, which it is liable to do at ordinarytemperatures, it becomes liable to spontaneous combustion.

I have discovered that I can produce a stable nitrated starch by mixingwith nitrated starch an amid of oxalic acid. The mixing may be made inany manner to produce a good mixture. .They may be mixed wet or dry andin any kind of a mixer. Preferably'I mix the two in a finely dividedpowdered condition in a bowl provided with stirrersor, paddles.Preferably I use oxamid, OONH -OONH I can also use the other amids ofoxalic acid, such as oxamic acid CONH,,.OOOH, and oxamid oo a etc.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 7, 1908.

The reagents above named are mixed with the nitrated starch formed inthe ordinary and Well known manner, and preferably in an amount of fromtwo to five per cent., although larger and smaller amounts may be used.I have found three per cent. to give good results.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is:

1. A stable explosive,'consisting of amixture-of nitrated starch and anamid of oxalic acid, the latter being in such proportion as to stabilizethe nitrated starch.

2. A stable explosive, consisting of a mixture of n'itrated starch andfrom two to five per cent. of an amid of oxalic acid.

3. A stable explosive consisting of a mixture of nit-rated starch andoxamid, the latter being in such proportion as to stabilize the nitratedstarch.

4. A stable explosive, consisting of nitrated starch and from two tofive per cent.

, of oxamid.

In testimony of which invention, I have hereunto set my hand, atPhiladelphia, on this 15th day of May, 1907.

FLETCHER B. HOLMES.

Witnesses:

M. M. HAMILTON, E. E. WALL.

